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Way Back When

(The Spirit is pleased to share with our readers vignettes of life in the 19th century as originally reported in past issues of the newspapers. These reproduced stories include their original headlines and spelling.)

Local Intelligence
February 8, 1888

Cold Coke Ovens
About three hundred ovens have recently been shut down at the Walston Coke Works and the usual amount of coal is not being shipped, all on account of decrease in the demand for these articles.

The stagnation in the coal and coke industry is caused by the great strike now in progress.

The Troy Steel & Iron Company, of Troy, N.Y., which received an average of thirty cars of coke per day from Walston, has shut down, as has also the Cleveland Rolling Mill, the Emma Furnace Company, and the Worcester Steel Works, all of which received their supply of coke from this place.

Of course the shipments are still comparatively large, but have fallen off nearly one-half.

Mrs. Kate Hervey Dead

Mrs. Kate Hervey, wife of Rev. D. W. C. Hervey, formerly of this place, died at her home in Arela, Ills., January 30, 1888. Her death was the result of an accident.

On the morning of January 16, the weather being severe, she slipped and fell on the back porch, breaking her ankle. She lay there for some time before her predicament was discovered, and the exposure induced pneumonia, which terminated in her death two weeks later.

Mrs. Hervey was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., February 14, 1828.

She had many friends in this vicinity who will be sorry to learn of her death. She leaves a husband and six children.

February 15, 1888
* Dr. J. A. McKibbon has sold his drug store to Dr. R. V. Spackman, of Luthersburg. Dr. McKibbon will shortly go to California where he thinks his health will be improved.

* Since H. L. Karthrop has become proprietor of the Burns House it is a good place to stop at. The house is situated on East Main street, and is a credit to all who live in the East End.

* John Stevenson has handed in his resignation as engineer on the R. & F. C. railroad. John is as fine an engineer as ever pulled a throttle and has already received several offers for his services.

* J. C. Mauk, the village blacksmith at Sprankle's Mills, was in town last Saturday, and called at this office. Mr. Mauk is a good mechanic and genial gentleman.